Homemade inground pool vacuum. Works great!
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- čas přidán 18. 06. 2019
- Okay, here is a new description of this video, updated April 2020 due to lots of parts questions.
I built this the way I build everything- on the fly with no plans. I saw an item like this commercially made, and wanted one, but it was prohibitively expensive. I think timing is everything in life, because I was looking for model numbers for some people who asked, and I see the pump is way more expensive than it was when I bought it on Amazon so I suggest shopping around.
Do not buy any plumbing parts until you have your pump and filter in hand, because some inlets and outlets are 1.5 inches, and some are 1.25 and some are a mixture. All pumps (at least the inground ones) can run on 120v or 240v. depending on how you wire the pump. Be sure to buy an extension cord (dont use romex) to splice to the pump that can handle the amp load- at least a 30A cord. Simply cut off the plug, use the three leads to wire the pump. Make sure the outlet you are using is gfci, which mine is. If yours isnt, I would suggest incorporating a gfci breaker into the unit.
So the canister filter is apparently no longer made, but it was a hayward 751. The pump is hayward also sp2610x15; and the unions are 4 @ sp14953s. You will also need the pvc, pvc cement, pvc 90 s or 45 depending on where you want to run the pvc, and some sort of cart.I would bet a harbor freight movers dolly would work fine with some pressure treated wood on top.
it really works well though
R
Works very well. Hayward 1.5hp superpump inground pump, Hayward 751 canister filter, some unions and some water tight electrical boxes /fittings and an old garage sale pressure washer cart.
All in probably less than 800 - Jak na to + styl
lots of qs about parts etc. please read description. thanks
i am currently thinking about doing this because our pool pump loses suction because there is a leak in the jets and its annoying to have to stop and start
@@josh6715 it’s been well worth the effort and cost. Good luck.
@@Samlol23_drrich i found a pump and cartridge filter with the pipes attached on Facebook for $100 australian
@@josh6715 that's a great find! Worst scenario you repipe
You did a great job with your build. Like you I have trees near my pool. And keeping it clean through the in-ground system is a nightmare. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Thank you for your comment, but more importantly thank you for your service.
Very nice, I'm currently building basically the same thing. I picked up a used 1hp superpump used on marketplace for $100 (as you said, inground pump is the way to go [self-priming]), and bought a new C500 hayward cartridge filter. Now to find a suitable cart, I really like your pressure washer one!
Thanks! The pressure washer has been sitting under my deck broken for at least 2 years. I didnt toss it because the motor runs and i want to make a go cart for the kids when i get around to it. Before i thought of that cart, i was going to use a moving dolly from harbor freight as a base and get larger wheels.
Its pretty heavy, so that wouldnt have worked unless i didnt plan to move it. I suggest some sort of garden cart or dolly modification.
Good find with that pump. That was the most expensive part.
Good luck.
Thank you for this video great stuff. Always refilling pool after vac.
Thanks! It’s still working like a champ
I really love it Great Idea I have the same problem Thanks this is great video
No problem. This is my second season using it, and its great. I leave it outside near the pool equipment covered with a tarp and vacuum every week. It makes maintenance easy
I just replaced a good pump with a larger one and will build the same thing with my old pump. Just needed to decide on the filter. thank you.
My suggestion is to get the one with the most available and cheapest aftermarket filters. Since the thing is made to pick up sand and dirt, the filter has to be cleaned a lot more than a pool filter
@@Samlol23_drrich you can also get filter floss from fish tank stores , think saltwater sump, and at the end when it dumps back in the water have it dump into the filter floss, will get all the fine particles then just pull it and wash it. an added step if you want, just hang it right before it goes back into the pool. Even just a basket with insides of a pillow in a pinch.. but yeza, Filter floss.. Final polish...
@@Kriswixx unfortunately after the pandemic, pool stuff went way up in price. The superpump wasn't crazy expensive but it is now. Also hayward stopped making that cheap filter.
I think it would be overkill to use the filter floss. I used to have saltwater aquariums (when I wanted to throw away $$) and the hayward pool filter doesn't let anything through.
Im in the same boat. You are my hero.
Thanks for commenting! Smooth sailing once you get the water balanced.
you are a genius good sir. every pool guy should have one we should market it
Thanks but there is definitely something like this out there from which I got the idea. Its $2000 here www.advantageman.com/Portable_Vacuum_System_p/adm_portavac.htm. I was able to build the same thing for less than half of the cost, and it works extremely well.
@@Samlol23_drrich for sure you got me checking craiglist for cheap stuff. lol. I know i can do it under 200$ for sure.
im thrifty.
contemplating adding a "T" fitting to top of existing inground pool pump to re-route pump-to-D.E. filter, to another cartridge stand a-lone filter. Use this combo, save on crapping up DE filter
Thats really why i made this. Didnt want to crap up my sand filter, and no matter how careful you are, it does.
Perfect
Eventually I am going to make one just like yours. What size is the filter?
I believe your above ground pump could have worked if you plumbed a check valve before the water entering pump, makes priming no problem . Great work like the cart better than a hand dolly.
Steve Gois thanks for the advice. You’re probably right. I don’t utilize those enough. Thanks for watching
They still don't prime and every time you open the basket they take another 10 15 minutes to get prime. If you had a 2.5 it may be able to pull through the check valve. Pool pro here and using a corded above ground pump has caused me more headaches than want to deal with even when using a check valve. Very nice setup .
What a great job. I got question please. how do you change position of discharge pipe.? I mean using swivel adapter after union? thanks…
Thanks for the compliment! Much appreciated. The discharge pipe only moves up and down, so If I want it to flow a certain way, direct it into the pool by angling the entire unit. To me, as long as it’s pointed towards the water it doesn’t matter if it goes straight, right, or left. You could probably use some vacuum hose if you wanted, or a swivel if they make such a thing. I figured the more parts I have, the better chance to break. Thanks again.
I have a inground pump that requires grounding. how did you ground the pump to avoid shocking?
Its grounded through the breaker box. I used a cord with 3 prongs. It’s a 110 pump. Hot, neutral and ground. There is a ground nut in the pump in addition to the hot and neutral legs.
How did you mounted the on/off switch I would like to see, I’m about to build me one
I drilled through the box in 2 spots and drilled through the frame and used bolts and washers. If you are mounting it on a flat surface its easier to drill. Good luck
Awesome video! Just curious how well your pump has held up? I have the same model, but I'm a little concerned about splicing to an extension cord since the manual says it needs to be permanently connected to circuit
100 percent fine. It can be wired 120 or 240v. I think they say to permanently wire it for their liability. As long as the cord isn't like 20gauge (very thin) it should be fine. Thanks
Use #12 wire its rated for 20 amps
Very nice job. Can you list me all the products to buy please...... i will be very happy champion
Would it work with sand filter instead of cartridges filter? Thanks
I guess it totally depends on what your goal is. The answer is a definite yes byt for a sand filter to work well You need hundreds of pounds of sand. I guess you could make a very small sand filter Using something like a home depot bucket, But I'm not sure how much dirt that would pull out of the pool and keep out of the pool.It would definitely work for leavesBut then again so would not using any filter at allAnd only using the pump basket. Thanks for commenting
I just saw your video and this is what I'm looking for. Can you spec it out (parts list) for us? Thanks
Check the description. It’s basically in there. Thanks for watching. Use it weekly for my home only. It’s awesome.
How often do you have to spray off the cartridge when you are opening the pool? I have oaks all around my pool and have a cover with a drain so the bottom of my pool is brown with a three foot stripe of algae below the drain area. I am able flush to the street to lower the water level but that only gets 50-60% of the junk in the pool. Thanks for making this video.
My situation is totally different and there is very little algae since its usually pretty cool in NY in early May. I have a ton of debris on the bottom, mainly leaves and dirt. I usually don't have to rinse the filter cartridge at all when opening the pool. I usually rinse it maybe twice the entire season. The leaf collector grabs most of the junk and allows the pump basket and actual filter to only catch the smallest stuff. If you have a ton of algae, probably need to spray it off when the flow slows. I use two cartridges and rotate them. It allows me to clean one over time while the other is in use.
Thanks for commenting and hope that sort of answers
@@Samlol23_drrich Do you think a 30square foot cartridge filter could do the job with a 1.5HP motor pump? Someone is selling one local.
@@dl777 I'm definitely no expert but make sure its not an above ground pump. I have one I used once and couldn't return. Brand new hayward 1.5hp. If its meant for above ground you won't get the suction to prime it. At least I didnt.
Having said that, if the price is right and you are handy, I dont see why not. If you are going to use it during the season to vacuum like I do, its mainly the bigger stuff you need to get rid of and if worse came to worse you could get a small garbage can made of plastic and a couple of bulkhead fittings and make a sand filter.
@@Samlol23_drrich Thanks!
@@dl777 no problem. Something like this czcams.com/video/v86ur2HiOk8/video.html
How do you wire up that switch? Run wires from the motor to each terminal on switch? Then match extension cord wires to corresponding screws?
The motor is set for 120v. There is a black(hot) white (neutral) and ground ( green) . Any switch just breaks the hot wires(black).
So it goes cord (plug) green tied to motor green (w wire nut)in the switch box, cord white tied to motor white (w wire nut)in the switch box, and black from the cord goes to one screw on the switch, and the black from the motor goes to the other screw on the switch.
Now coming off the switch will also be a white wire and a green wire (you'll have to make 2 small wires about 5" one white and one green. Attach them to the appropriate places on the switch.) Open the other whites in the switch box and add the switch white (now 3 wires together)
And do the same with the greens (now also 3 greens together.)
That's it.
@@Samlol23_drrich can I plug this into a 15 amp home GFCI outlet? Will a 15 amp extension cable be sufficient to run the pump?
@@calg1706 probably not but it depends on the pump. There should be a plate on the pump that says how many amps it pulls. If it's less than 15 and its the only thing on the circuit it should be fine. If there are other things I would go with 20a. Motors draw a lot of power to start them and then less once they are running. I would give it a try if you already have everything in place. Worst scenario is it trips the breaker
@@Samlol23_drrich Thank you! one more question how did you connect the vacuum hose to the pump? did you use an adapter? would you mind providing me the size of it. Thanks.
What kind of power source is this hooked up to? I’ve tried making this exact system with similar pumps but it will never prime to it’s full potential.
It plugs into my 110. It must be an inground pump. I wasted 200 on an above ground thats now sitting in my garage after it wouldnt prime. I bought the 1.5hp version of my main pool pump. It does take about 3 minutes to prime from empty pipe. If i filled it with water it would be much faster.
I will tell you where the source of the problem most likely is; the suction hose. On a pool. There is glued pvc with no chance of leaking.
When hooking the suction end of a pump to flexible vacuum hose, the connection between the plastic end and the flex tubing tends to leak. Try sealing that with silicone
Thank you for the response! Yes seems to be something along those lines as the pump pulls water for about 2 seconds then completely stops.
Your solution was correct. I tried putting a piece of PVC right into the pool from the pump and it primed up instantly
@@timmymarker4276 awesome. The corregated tube cant leak, i would think unless there is a hole. You can try putting it onto the pressure end of the pump and plugging the end slightly and see where it leaks. It has to be that junction. Since its suction its almost impossible to find.
Rotating discharge pipe that you connected, you just used regular sp14953s union on it?
Yes. Just a regular union. The intention was to slightly loosen the union nut to raise and lower the outlet, but at this point the connection screwed into the filter is looser than the union and I’m too lazy to break out the big pipe wrench so I just let that connection screw in or out. It’s only 1/4 of a turn so it’s fine.
@@Samlol23_drrich thank you
@@AlexK07010 no prob. Good luck if you’re making one. I use it every time I service my pool and it’s so much better than when I used to attach to the skimmers. Directly. In theory you could just use a male adapter into the filter. Once it’s screwed all the way in, come out a couple of inches and then a 90 with a couple of feet to return the water into the pool. Then to raise it up, you would unscrew it from the filter. Of course at that point the only way to disassemble would be to cut the long piece, so I wouldn’t glue that to the 90. And it would be fine.
@@Samlol23_drrich yep in the process of making one. Ive been using my super pump with discharge hose but that looses too much water so just got the filter to recirculate it instead of wasting. I might put a 3 way valve on as well to be able to still use my discharge hose bypassing the filter
Will this pick up leaves and
It picks up everything. Big and bigger. It’s a huge pump with only one return basically. I have an in line leaf filter that’s larger than the filter built into the pump, so I can go longer without needing to empty debris. But yeah, works way way better than using my pool filtration.
Nice
Thanks.
I’d like to make one
How long did it take u to make this
Including the fact that i bought the wrong motor and had to start from scrach??
Not long at all.
It was just a matter of getting all the pieces together then assembling them. I wasnt planning to use the pressure washer frame, i was going to buy a metal moving dolly from harbor freight, but then i realized i had a rotting old power washer under my deck. The unions are standard size, got them on amazon, since they dont carry them locally. Everything is off the shelf parts, the hayward filter and pump are off the shelf, then its just regular pvc and glue.
As for the electrical, got some off the shelf grey waterproof box switch and conduit, the cord from an extension cord i cut the plug off of, making.sure it was the right gauge for the pump.
Just beware, you NEED an inground pump. I saw a you tube video where the guy used an above ground hayward pump, so i got a 2 hp brand new pump. Wouldnt self prime and wouldnt hold a prime.
Waste of 200. Its now siting on my garage floor. Threw out the box.
It really works well. Way better than my robotic cleaner
Im going to try to make a much better video this season when i open my pool. I was just so glad to get the thing together to get my pool started last season, that i didnt take any clips of it actually working.
I see they no longer make the cartridge filter anymore. I would love to make one myself based on your video. Once you got the right pump do u have any issue with priming? Can you send me the product list so I can make one
@@rhomeotim no issues at all. The choice of filter cartridges was random. Did you check ebay? I see one on amazon. I think its probably the same as the new one except the new one doesn't appear to have a cartridge included. I will look later tonight and see what i can find in terms of what i bought, but i didnt keep a list of things.
@@rhomeotim ok, the pump is a Hayward sp2610x15, and i used 4 unions sp14953s also hayward mip. 2 for the pump, 2 for the filter.
Also 1.5" pvc and pvc cement, and an outdoor electrical box and switch. An extension cord, 20or 30amp, and some conduit. And something to mount the pump and filter to. Then just plan were you want the pvc to run, and connect it all together. I just winged it, and dont have an official list of stuff. Then you need the tubing from the pump to a pool vac and pole also
@Samlol23_drrich Are you still using the same pump till this day?
yes. It's an in-ground pump. Those things are made to run 24/7. It's only used for an hour or so a week when I'm vacuuming the pool. So I'm expecting it to last forever.
Did u have to use pvc
I’m not sure what else is cheap and routinely used for pools, but no, I didn’t have to. I guess if I got barbed type fittings (pvc) for the filter and pump, I could have run flexible vacuum hose between them, and clamped it to the fittings, but pvc is way cheaper. What did you have in mind?
@@Samlol23_drrich yes I was thinking vac hose but yea pvc is cheap thank you
Any chance you can tell me how to make this and give me a parts list??
Unfortunately i dont have a parts list. I just winged it, bought an arbitrary filter based on it fitting onto the pump, and bought the pump. I understand Hayward no longer makes this filter, but even a smaller one would be fine. Remember, these filters are meant to clean an entire pool all season every day, and this thing is being used way way less. The pump is
1.5hp inground.
Hayward Super inground pool Pump 1.5 HP Model SP2610X15;
Hayward C900 Filter System with a Cx900Re Cartridge Filter Element;
4 Hayward SP14953S unions (2 for the pump & 2 for the filter);
30 AMP 100 FT extension cord (This one im not sure);
electrical conduit to run pool electric;
weather proof on off switch cover;
weatherproof electrical box;
assorted pvc pipes, elbows, couplings, fittings all 1.5 in diameter.
1.5 in diameter x (35 or 40 ft) length vacuum hose;
extra wide 19" or 22" manual vacuum head;
hayward large leaf canister model number w530.
hope this helps.
@@peterarguello3200 it helps me, for when i burn up this one, ill be able to easily make another! Thanks for taking the time to do that. It was very nice of you.
This may have been overkill, but i also use a Hayward W530 leaf canister between the vacuum head and the pump it catches the big stuff before it gets to the pump basket.
Again, thanks for taking the time to make a parts list. Opening my pool as we speak.
Any chance you took a video of the initial vac with this setup? Looking to put this together for my In ground salt water pool before opening this year.
@@rayzrLennon I actually did because I was going going to make a video of opening my pool this year. I haven't even reviewed it yet, and im probably not going to, because its worthless. The initial water was so brown/green and opaque, you cant at all see anything being picked up.
It works very well. The only thing i would suggest is to buy 2 filters. It came with one and i bought a second because they get clogged easily. Not enough to render it useless, just lower volume than when clean. I wash one off and rotate them so tbere is no downtime.
Haha we use that exact homemade vacuums! Ahaha!
Works great- right? Just ordered a new filter for mine. They get dirty fast.
@@Samlol23_drrich we spray the filters after every job. Does work great. I started at this company last Wednesday. It’s great. I’m servicing pools and life guarding when there is down time. You don’t need that run off pipe. Ours just drains right out the Hayward
@@Samlol23_drrich we wash them out at least once per pool. We do a couple! What’s your email? I want to show you the vacuums I use and chat more. I just started at this company and I need help “sinking the line” I put the pole with vac head and “tube” the “line” and then go hand by hand but I still find myself looking for a garden hose to just fill the “line” .. some of the jobs don’t have water.. so I just put the whole “line” in the pool and let the line fill and take it in and out of air to get water in the line that way like scooping water into it but it seems like not enough. I need to be able to keep up… that’s my biggest problem
Would you be interested in making one for me to buy?
Sorry didn't see this. They make them commercially, you can buy one!
With all the money you dpent piecing that together, you could have purchased a vacdaddy or whatever the pros use
No I couldn't have. I priced the pro model first. Porta vac with the same 1.5hp inground pump is 2500. I think My build was about 1/3 of the cost if I recall correctly. Trust me- if it was close I would have bought a pre made one but mine was far cheaper and just as good if not better